Jamie M. Rye serves as Director of the West Michigan Regional Planning Commission, where he leads multi-jurisdictional planning initiatives on land use, transportation, economic development, and environmental protection for member communities across the region. He also volunteers as a Regional Economic Innovation Consultant with the Michigan State University Center for Community and Economic Development.

Throughout his career spanning over two decades, Jamie has worked at the intersection of economic development, sustainable agriculture, affordable housing, equitable access to healthcare, and community empowerment. He has successfully raised over $27 million in funding and managed multimillion-dollar budgets while leading organizations through transformative change. His experience ranges from coordinating with planning commissions on zoning reforms for tiny homes and urban agriculture to leading Hurricane disaster recovery efforts across seven counties.

A proven coalition builder, Jamie has developed strategic partnerships with entities ranging from the EPA and USDA to corporate partners like Blue Cross Blue Shield and local conservation districts. His unique background includes pioneering a health initiative in South African informal settlements, co-founding a 1,500+ person justice and arts festival, helping establish Ohio's first net-zero congregation through strategic planning and regulatory navigation, and creating multilingual support programs for refugee and immigrant communities.

Jamie contributes his expertise to numerous regional boards and advisory committees, including the Michigan Farm Link Advisory Committee, Ionia County Economic Alliance Board, West Michigan Agri-Cluster Coalition, North Central Region SARE Research and Education Proposal Review Team, and the Michigan Association of Regions. Whether working on farmland succession planning, watershed protection, or regional economic strategy, he brings a systems-thinking approach grounded in equity, community organizing, and practical implementation.

Jamie holds certifications in Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Conflict Transformation, and Cultural Intelligence, complementing his formal education in theology and human development from Cornerstone University.